THOUGHTS - "A letter to myself..."

January 20, 2005

Dear Ryan,

You were made to succeed, that hasn't changed. I know it was a bit of a tough experience last week in Portland. As always, "what if's" don't count for much since hindsight is totally different than actually living it. At least by being realistic now, you can see things in perspective. Entering Nationals with a back injury was enough to deal with even if you hadn't been sick. Sure you still thought you could pull it off. No matter the circumstances, you wouldn't have acknowledged anything else. But seriously, what other option did you have? You could have withdrawn but that's not like you. Positive thinking at least gave you the best chance possible. Besides, you trained an entire year for this so it is good that you at least gave yourself a chance. All the great success and traveling this fall also had a negative consequence you weren't ready for: a loss of continuous training time. Trying to make up for that in two weeks didn't accomplish anything but breaking you physically right before Nationals.
Now you know.

It is a great thing that you had the experience of success in the Grand Prix Series this year because now you how to better prepare for the long season next year. Though you feel an emotional wound due to unmet expectations and your season being cut short, you've got to admit that you're physically relieved. Now is the time to rest up, get surgery to remove the cyst on your toe, and forge plans for next year. It is paramount to get healthy. The last thing to do is sit and "wallow". Just as a rider of a bicycle will fall over if he comes to a stop, so will you. Keep your momentum moving forward and make adjustments as you go. Lastly, I know it has always been your desire to be someone who does the extraordinary; not just learn about the extraordinary, or plan the extraordinary, or even try the extraordinary. That is still who you are. Sometimes failure gets in the way of those desires, but that doesn't make you a failure. In fact it wouldn't be extraordinary if failure and risk taking weren't on the way there. Hopefully, this letter has been a bit of a catharsis for you. Remember where you came from, and more importantly, where you're going.

Your best friend,

Ryan

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